The Danger of Driving in Devon

I now officially hate driving around Dartmoor and Devon. It all started last March. . .

If you recall from my blog entry back then, I went to the Dartmoor Spring Meet in Plymouth. As this was my first time there, I was using my car's sat nav to get around. Unfortunately, the sat nav tried to take me down what I now term 'cow paths'. . .one lane roads with no shoulders to pass. I really hate these roads. I find them dangerous yet locals fly down them. So, instead of following the sat nav and taking the quick route to the meet, I decided to go the long way around which took me right through Plymouth. Mistake.

As I was excelerating to go up a hill, I came down the other side fast and 'boom' - a safety camera got me. (These are the fixed cameras all over England that just sit there and collect drivers each and every day. I wonder how many millions they've 'earned' from these things?!) Of course, at the time I didn't realize I was being tagged, but about a month later a notice came in the mail.

I think it was about 60.00 for going 39 in a 30 zone. So be it - I speeded, I pay the price. You have to send your license in with these fines, so I sent in my Texas drivers license and my 60.00. Shortly after that, they came back. My fine was returned and I was given notice that I was potentially driving illegally and I would be 'hearing from them'. (Actually I wasn't. The law is that you can drive for up to a year on foreign license before you are required to get a UK one. I was well within my first year here, so I was legal.) But, darn, this didn't sound good.

So, time ticked on. April, May, June, July, August. Then boom. In August, I received a new letter. A court summons. What?! For a speeding ticket?! I was required to be in court in Devon in October, or I could plead guilty by mail. Oh brother. The new problem was that I hadn't gotten my UK license yet. Now I was illegal and they wanted my license again - I couldn't risk sending the foreign one. Quickly I researched getting a license. I would have to take a theory test and a practical test. There was no switch for a US drivers license for a UK one which I thought was what I would have to do. I would have to start at the beginning. I hurriedly sent off for the Provisional License. The first step. With this, I could now sign up for the theory and practical tests and I was more or less legal.

The theory test didn't seem to be too big of a deal. I figured I better get a little book to study or check around online. Thank God I did! This little test was MUCH harder than I would have assumed. In the US, I could have (and have) taken the theory test with hardly any studying. Its not too hard. Really. Not true in the UK. They do a hazard portion which I found to be quite challenging. At least I now know that English drivers are much more safe than US drivers - you have to fairly competent to pass these tests and drive around here. So, I sweated it out, studied and shot off to Guildford for the test. An hour or so later, I found out I passed. Whew. Stage 2 done. Could I get the practical done before I had to send back this court summons?

The short answer is no. Timing was all wrong and I couldn't schedule the test in enough time to get all my documentation back. So, nervously, I sent back my notice with my new provisional license (as least I passed the theory and it said I had up to 2yrs to pass the practical after that - maybe I would be okay afterall) with thoughts of getting a suspension and how would I get around and get kids to school. . .booo. I was equally nervous because they required me to fill out an income statement. My fine would be based on 'if I was able to pay'. What???!!! How unfair is that? What happened to just a standard fee?! How much would I get charged anyway!

Last week was the court date. I pleaded guilty by mail so didn't have to attend in person. This week I got all my documentation and license back. The verdict? 325.oo fine + costs equal 400.o0 total!! and 3 points on my license. Part of me was relieved it wasn't worse, and part of me was so mad at the fine. Have you heard of anything so ridiculous! For speeding. Yes, I should be fined, I admit that, but let's not get stupid with massive amounts like that. Foreigners get fined extra I guess - only the English pay the proper amount.

I've since purchased a speed detector for the car. It's a really cool one - it automatically downloads as you drive any new info on current working speed cameras from their database. Yeah! Hopefully I'll only see one of those monster tickets. I don't think we can afford too many of those at these prices.

And who said the local councils were poor after losing their money in Iceland?! Between pay and displays everywhere and massive speeding fine amounts, they must be making out like bandits.

Ok, well, maybe I'm a sore loser. . .